MIAMI – Jeff Cohen, Campaign Manager for Connie Mack’s U.S. Senate campaign sent the following letter today to Charlie Crist’s closest political confidant, “Maestro”, and former Chief of Staff, George LeMieux.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious concern. To compare your opponent, Connie Mack, to Charlie Sheen is both offensive and outrageous.

The Mack family – including Congressman Mack, his wife Mary and his parents – have been leaders in standing up against the rising use of drugs among our citizens.

I know you believe it was cute (albeit juvenile) to bring in Charlie Sheen. Instead, it was offensive, demeaning and belittling to the hard work that so many people – including the Macks – have done for so long in dealing with the serious problem of addiction, and particularly drug and alcohol addiction among teenagers.

As I said before, you were always proud to be known as a bare-knuckle, take-no-prisoners political operative, but I would be curious as to whether the Partnership for a Drug Free America, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other hard working anti-drug and alcohol addiction organizations would find your Charlie Sheen comment as funny as you do. Let me assure you, they wouldn’t.

George, your embarrassing campaign has gone beyond slinging mud to rapidly sinking into quicksand, which for you, must be a very lonely and desperate place – especially for someone who for so long has proudly proclaimed himself to be Charlie Crist’s political “Maestro.”